£505 




S?3 



pH83 



x-y- 



STA.TE ]>i:iLIT^^IiY^ Ali^FAIIiS. 



REPORT 

OF 

aOVEENOE TATES, 

— TO THE 

CONA^EaSTTIOISr, 



LINOIS, J 
rMENT, V 

23, ISGi. S 



State of Illinois, 
Executive Departm: 
Springfield, Jan. 2; 
Eon. W. A, Uaiker, President of the Constitutional 
Convention : 

Sir : I am in receipt of the following resolu- 
tions passed by vour honorable body, January 
13.1862: 

liesolution Ho, 4. And also thit he te requested to 
state whether the General fiovernment his Bent the Qn r- 
termasters ani other officers here to take charge of the sold- 
iers from our State. 

liesolution Ao. 5. And also that h? furnish this Con- 
vention with a copy of all correspondence rn this subject. 

To the above resolutions, I shall take the lib- 
erty of adding your resolution of January 17th, 
upon the same subject, with the view of an- 
sweiing all of these resolutions in this commu- 
nication, which resolution is as follows: 

Besolned, That the Governor of the State be requested to 
commtinicite to this Convention, if the United States Gov- 
ernmenthas notified him of its readiness to relieve the St-te 
of lUinoi of fun her expenditure in the organization, equio- 
ment and maintenmae of troops enlisted in this State for 
the military service of the United States. And if so whether 
any arrangements have been made by him in aciordance 
with such no ification. 

I have the honor to state that I have turned 
over to the United States the subsistence and 
maintenance of the troops of the State. Also, 
I have, in pursuance of an order from the War 
Department of the IGth December ult., made 
arrangement with the United States Quarter- 
master, at Springfield, for transferring the 
Quartermaster's stores, and that until this ar- 
rangement is completed the State Quarter- 
master, as the agent of the United States 
Quartermaster for that purpose, will deliver 
supplies to the troops. No officer has yet 
been sent to take charge of Ordnance Stores, 
including cavalry equipments. These are bfi- 
ing delivered to the troops as their necessities 
require, and will continue to be so delivered 
until the Government shall designate an agent 
to receive them. I have made written applica- 



tion for the appointment of such an agent but 
have no reply thereto. 

I submit herewith the correspondence be- 
tvCeen Capt. A. R. Eddy, the United States 
Quartermaster at this place and myself, and 
also the letter of official notification by the Sec- 
retary of War directing me to hand over sup- 
plies to said Capt. Eddy. 

Quartbrmastek's Office, | 

Springfield, III., Nov. 9th, 1861. C 

Bis Excellency, Richard Yates, Governor of Illinois: 

Dear Sir : As you "re aware, I was ordered to this station 
to take charge of the QuartermAster's Denartmeat and of all 
the expend tures incident to it. The depfirtment is still in 
the hand-iof the Statf, because it is supposed (as I nm led 
to b-lieve from several conversation? with the ftate author- 
ities) she can and will take better care of her troops than the 
Uniied States. 1 con ider myself on duty here for the espe- 
cial benefit of lUinoino s voUnteers, and if the Quartermas- 
ter's Dep irtment were in my hinds I s lould consider myself 
bound to answer al proper requisitions mide by you for 
tVeir comfort ; and in those cases where the United States 
could not give the assistance required, owins to want of 
nece-sary law or regulation, the State woull stdl have it in 
her power to give it, and the more easily if sh^ were relieved 
from the pecuniary obligations tliat her present position ne- 
ce-sitate-t. If the wants of the St.te, sa far as my 
department is concern'-d, are supplied by me, it does 
not prevent yuu from appointing as many agents as 
you may deem proper, to see that the I linois troops are 
properly cared t^or, no matter where they mav be sta'ioned; 
and these agents would be of great ass stance in fartherlnsj 
the objects of the Fe leral Qoverniient. I am willlog to taise 
the contra -ts th t have been made bp the State lor all Quar- 
termaster supplies, through Q. M General ,<*'oo I, presumiDg 
them to be reasonat>le, and in compliance with army regula- 
tions. This remark more particularly aiiplies to the clothing 
contriCt, as I have perfonally eximin^d the clothing, and 
find it up to the army ^tau'lard. I will also take the suppli g 
on hand, If good enough for the troops, pay ng for them what 
the State paid, and lam further willing, to send the supplies 
wherever you may desire, and would be pleas d if jou sent 
your own agents with tbem, to see that your wishes are com- 
plied with. . , , ,„ ^ . 

ThedutiP! of my dpartment are particularly specified in 
para?raphs l,0G4, C5 of the revised regulations. I beg your 
excellency to understand that I recommend the transfer of 
the Q. M. Department to my hands wholly from a sense of 
duty to the United S a>s, and a de^re to do a 1 in my power 
"to assist th« etate authorities." 

Kespeclfullv, Your Ob,t Servant, 
A. R. EDDY. A. Q. M. 






State of Illinois, Executive Department, | 
Springfield, Decerabei- 9, 1S61. ) 
Gapt. A . R. Eddy, V. S. Quartermaster, Springjield : 

Dear Sir : Yo r favor of Nov. 9, (received during the 
early stapre of protracted indi po-iticn, from which 1 am ju t 
now recovering) ha- been fully cnnsideied. 

I informed you verbally, shorfly o'ter the rect-ipt of your 
letter, that I w s awai ing < ertain informitioa upon the sub- 
ject of clothing our troops. That inform-tion I have re- 
ceived, nnd I ow notl y yon that the State wi 1 continue to 
sunply her trorps wi'h clothng and horse equpment-. The 
St:tc Quartermaster Gener ! has been ins' uc' d to pufhiise 
such sup]:lies, and has already made pure ats upon terms 
most advantageous to the troops and iavorabie to the Unittd 
States. 

I avail myself of the r ght conferred by act of Congress 
upon each State, to furnish such supplies, because I think 
this S'ate can better | rovide for her t:(ops. That you 
would do your duty in such a s' rvice I have no dou t ; yet 
cur State Quartern a'i'er, G-nerid John ^'ood, h?s become 
so th irough y acqnainted wiih the condition and wans of 
our scat'ered r. pirret ts, takos so deep interest in ihera, 
and has givfn such abundant sitisfaction to the a'lthor ties 
ar, Washington and of this State, in the clothing heretofire 
furn shed, both f s to quality and price, as to s tisfy me that 
he oueht to be continued in the performance of this du y. 
Very respectfully, 

KICHDrYATES, Governor. 



Quartermaster's Office. \ 
Springfield, Illinois, Dec. 11, 1S61. J 
To Jlis Excellency, Richard Yates, Qovexnor of IIU- 
no is: 
Dear Sir . I have tiie honor to acknowledge the receipt of 
your letter of the9lhinst. It's coTtrary to tlie w's'es ot' 
the authorities at Wa^^hii'gton that his state s'louldcintinue 
to act lor tne United Stat s when the latter ha< her own ap- 
pointed agents. I cannot consent that the State autiorities 
should continue the control of my department, in it-t most 
important branch, leaMng to me dutie.'s of m nor impnrt- 
ance. If you desire to conduct the departmeat in one 
branch, you must do it in all. The course heretofore rilr- 
sued by me has the warm anproval of my superiors, t > whom 
your letter will be referred. Nj conrac's or purchases 
made by the State since you were l«'t informed of my leadi- 
ness to Hsume cintrol of he Qaartermasier'd lefartmeut 
wi:l be recognized by me. 

Respectfully, your cbedient servant, 

A. R. EDDY, A. Q. M. 
TTar Tepartkent, December 16, 1S61. 
Sir: I have theh-nor to make known to you that 'he 
Quart rmaster General ban been nst ucted to bring ihe ex- 
p<ndilures of ihe Qua terraaster's Department into the h mds 
of its officers aa soon as possible. Caiitain A. R.Eddy As- 
ssista/itQuartt-rmaster U. S. A., who is stationed at Spring- 
field, is charged with the duty of attending to all such e.xpen- 
ditures, and will heeafter make a".I contracts pertaining 
thereto. With gr. at respect, 

Your obedient servant, 

SlJilON CAMEROX, 
Secretarv of War. 
His Excellency, Richard Yates, Spr ngfleld, Illinois. 

This last letter came by mail to Springfield, 
and did not come to hand until my return from 
Washington on the 11th of January. At this 
time Capt. Eddy was absent, and the above 
mentioned arangement for the transfer afore- 
said, was made with him shortly after his re- 
turn. 

Up to the date of Capt. Eddy's first letter of 
November 9, the State Quartermaster, by my 
direction, had furnished the troops of the State 
with nearly all the clnthing they had received. 
The clothing was higher in price and of much 
better quality than that furnished by tfie 
United States. Neveaheless, in the adjust- 
ment of the accounts between the State and the 
United States, the State was allowed in full the 
prices which the State had paid for clothing 
and other Quartermaster supplies. In view of 
these facts, I deemed it my duty to continue in 
jthe hands of the State the "furnishing her 

1 . ° t 



troops until I should receive official notification 
to discontinue. Up to that date, there was no 
general or special ordtr of the War Department 
prohibiting Governors of the States from sup- 
plying the troops of their States. Nor did 
Capt. Eddy furnish me with any authority from 
the War Department to me or to him to .this 
effect. I regarded his letters to rne not as 
orders to discontinue furnishing the troops of 
the State, but in the nature of inquiries as to 
whether the State w( uld continue to furnish 
the supplies, also, as a recommendation that the 
Quartermaster's Department be transferred to 
him, and as imposing a condition that " if the 
State desired to conduct the Department in one 
l-ranch, she must do so in all." I did not regard 
his letters an official notification to me. And 
the Department at Washington seemed to take 
the some view of the case, and afterwards on 
the I6th day of December, as fully appears from 
the above letter of the Secretary of War, gave 
me official notice that "the Quartermaster Gene- 
ral had been instructed to bring the expendi- 
turfs of the Quartermaster's Department into 
the hands of its officers, as soon as possible," 
and that "Capt. A. R. Eddy, Assistant Quar- 
termaster U. S. A , who is stationed at Spring- 
field, IS charged with the duty of attending to 
all such expenditures and will hereafter make 
all contracts pertaining thereto." As soon as I 
received this notice, I directed the State Quar- 
termaster to make no further contracts for sup- 
plies, and made the arrangement with Captain 
Eddy for transferring the supplies on hand and 
contracted for, as above indicated. 

As soon as my health would justify, after 
the receipt of Capt. Eddy's communications, I 
went to Washington and called upon the Sec- 
retary of War to ascertain whether the Govern- 
ment desired the State to discontinue furnish- 
ing the troops with cloihing. He said it did, 
at least for the present. I then applied to the 
United States Quartermaster to turn over to 
the United States the clothing on hand and 
contracted for by the State Quartermaster, and 
at his request telegraphed to the agent of Gen. 
Wood for a copy of a contract of date Decem- 
ber 2d, which he had made at Philadelphia, 
under the direction of Gen, Wood, with clothing 
manufacturers, whose clothing had been ex- 
amined shortly before that time by Gen. Woed, 
and who were represented to me as the lowest 
bidders, for the same quality of clothing, among 
many houses from whom bids were solicited, 
both in New York and Philadelphia. The 
Quartermaster General refused to pay only the 
army price for the clothing, allowing nothing 
for its superior quality and higher price, leaving 
this difference for future adjustment. This lat- 
ter contract was for clothing made by samples, 
such as Gen. Wood alleges he he had hereto- 
fo ■ ■ ■ —-J-" fhe contract with 

C TMOCt, ri >-,,> 1 the State was 

a> ^"^56-0J7840 in her former 



adjustment wuu tuc 
31^ i 



.c U. S. Quarter- 



master. The clothing is represented to me to be 
equal or superior quality, and at as low prices as 
Gen. AVood had heretofurj paid, and which had 
received the unquahded approval of the Assistant 
U. S. Quartermaster at the prices paid for them 
as per his letter of Dec. II th. The Quarter- 
master General, however, intimated to ine that 
he feared the State Qiiartennastor General had 
paid too much for the goods, of which fact I in- 
formed the agent of Gen. Wood, and he imme- 
diately telegraphed to Philadelphia for samples 
of the clothing, for the purpose of having them 
tested in the Quartermaster's General's Depart- 
ment ; but the Quartermaster General declined, 
saying that if they were better than the army 
clothing, he could not be warranted in buying 
better clothing for the Illmois troops than for 
others, though he would leave the question of a 
full reimbursement for future adjustment which 
he expressed the belief would be ultimately al- 
owed. 

I submit, herewith, the communication of the 
Quartermaster General, showmg the basis upon 
which I arranged for the transfer of the con- 
tract to the TJ. S. Assistant Quartermaster, sub- 
ject, however, to two important explanations. 

General Wood informs me that the goods are 
to be delivered to him at Springfield, free of 
charge and risk, whereas the Government would 
be required to pay transportation and insurance 
or take the risk a'* the case may be, and which 
will unquestionably be allowed by the United 
States. lie also advises me that in making the 
contract, he reserved the right to take fewer 
articles 06 a certain kind of clothing than that 
represented in the communication of General 
Meigs, which reduces the aggregf.te sum of the 
contract from $733,800 10 $595, ?20. 

The said communication is as follows : 

Quartermaster General's Office, ) 
Washington Oiiy.Dec. 31, 1861. ) 
Hon. Simon Cameron, t'ccretnry of War : 

Sir: — the Govtrnor of Illinois informs me that the State 
hns, s nee rlie 1st of December, entfved into contract lor tlie 
following artic.es of cl thing, at prices which are compared 
with the prices offered at iicinnati under an advertisement 
of Capt. I'ickerson of Decemberll, and with the price) paid 
at Philadelphia by Lieut. Col. Crosmaa, Deputy Quartermas- 
ter General, on December 2d, the date of the Illinois con- 
tracts, 

I have, where the Philadelphia and Cincinnati prce? dif- 
fered, taken the hieh r prices of these two places compared 
with ihj Illinois contracts. 

Amts. Amts. 
Phil. 
Ills. Phil. Gin. Ills. or Cin. 
10,0C0 in'antry over- 
coats at $9 50 $7 75 $S 25 $95,000 $82,500 

8,000 cavalry over- 

coatsat 1175 9 S7 .... 94.000 79.S00 

4 000 cavalry and ar- 
tillery jackets 90 6 12 5 37 27,600 24,480 

30,000 iniautrv frock 

coats at S 00 6 87 7 22 W 240,000 216,750 

30,000 infantry rants 

lined .It 4 00 3 37 3 24 120.000 101,100 

10,000 cavalry and 

artillery pants.... 6 25 4 50 4 60 62,500 46,060 
40,000 flannel shirls 

at 146 96 .... 58,400 88,400 

30,000 flannel draw- 
ers at 121 50 .... 30,300 15,000 

Total amounts §733,800 f 603,100 

DilTerence 130,610 

$788,8j0 



The total amount of the Illinois contracts will exceed lli.i 
United states prices there ore, by |13ii,610. 

'i\\i f'tate iiow d sires to turn thcs' goods, as received from 
I the contract' rs. over to the United Slates Quartermaster iit 
I Spria^ eld, for issue to the Ulino.- troops, aud to be paid as 
the quarlermi^s er's d partment m ly be supplied with funds 
for the purpose, ai the rates spec tied as the United Stat s 
prices — the .-tale, for the present, set lin/ with the contrac- 
tors and leaving the qu< stioii ot reimbursement lor her e.v- 
pcndi'ure^ to be decided hereafter. Uniler ihe present cir- 
cumstances, I think this cours- the bes'. thai can be adopted, 
i.nd I respectfully recummend thit Ihi proposition of the 
Governor be ccepted. 

Very resp^'ctfully, 

Yoar o edient servant, 

M. 0. MEIGS, Q. M. General, 
(In;lorsed.)— Approved : Simon Cameron, Seu'y War. 
War Department, Jan. 2, 1862. 

The reason, why I thus insisted upon the 
right to furnish our troops with clothing, grew 
out of information of the most reliable charac- 
ter, which I was from day to day receiving-, 
that there was the utmost destitution and suf- 
fering among many of the troops furnished by 
the United States, not only in the inferior qual- 
ity, but also in dellcient quantity of clothing. 
In fact, some of our own regiments, which had 
been sufF>-'red to leave the State with the promise 
of uniforms from the United States, after 
months of delay and severe exposure, and most 
discreditable appearance, were compelled to 
make application to our State Quartermaster 
and obtain supplies frorr him. These state- 
ments are not made in disparagement of the 
United States Quartermaster General and his 
assistants. On the other hand, it is a matter 
of surprise that they have been able to supply 
as well as they have, the immense army of near 
six hundred thousand newly raised recruits. 
From the necessity of the case much inferior 
clothing had to be used and many regiments 
had to go for months, without clothing, except 
such as they had when they left their homes. The 
appeals from many of our regiments were such 
as would have excited the sympathies of the 
members of this Convention, if addressed to 
them, and it required the ut.most vigilance and 
energy to sup{ ly them. 

The only regrets which I now have are, not 
that too much money has been expended with 
a view to promote their comfort, but far too 
little for the men who have so nobly undertaken 
to do and dare for their country. I am free to 
confess, what seems to be implied in a resolu- 
tion before your honorable body, that the 
troops have not had their wants supplied as 
they deserved, and that motives of economy, and 

des"re to keep within appropriations, have 
arevented such expenditures as were necessary 
p their full and complete comfort. 

I ought to say, in justification of General 
Wood, that I have from the beginning encour- 
aged him in the purchase of the best clothing 
for our troops, even though it might exceed the 
army prices. I considered it the best economy. 
I also was willing to take the risk, and if the 
United States would not pay the difference, 1 
relied confidently upon the patriotism of the 
people of our great and noble State most cheer- 
fully to pay that difference. The consequence 
has been that Illinois troops, so far as furnished 



by the State, are undeniably the best clothed 
of" any in the service, and benedictions are 
poured out from the ranks of our noble soldiery 
upon the State, which has cared for them in 
their distant canps and marches. It is 
also a matter susceptible of proof that 
tne regiments thus properly clothed have 
Buffered far less from disease and in loss of 
life, than those which have been supplitd with 
inferior clothi' g. While disease and death 
have sadly thinned the lanks of the poorly clad 
regiments, and filled the hospitals and peopled 
the grave yards of the camps, the Illinois regi- 
ments are comparatively free from disease and 
in the enjoyment of health and vigor. In all 
this, I have no cause to regret the policy th^ 
State has pursued, and no truly loyal citizen 
will regret it. 

I have only to add in this connection, that in 
rehnquifhing to the United f* tales the charge of 
the troops, I feel that the State authorities are 
relieved from arduous and responsible duties, 
but I fear the consequences to the troops, not 
from distrust of the United States authorities, 
but from the immense numbers to he supplied. 
I deem it due to the Conven;ion, however, to say 
that these gallant sons of Illinois, our neighbors 
and kindred, the flower of the State, the chival- 
ry of the land, have left their business, their 
homes, their wives and their childrei., to peril 
all for the country and the institutions we love, 
and whenever they shall be found in suffering 
and destitution, so long as I am Governor, and 
can find the means, I shall take the responsibil- 
ity of furnishing them with the supplies neces 
sary to their comfort. 

Upon the subject of the appropriations of the 
last Legislature, you will indulge me in saying 
that the Legislature looked forward to no such 
war as that we now have on our hands. It was 
then supposed that ten regiments of infantry 
and one regiment of cavalry, with one battallion 
of artillery, would be the maximum number 
which would in any event be required from this 
State, and these were to be supplied by the 
State only for thirty days, and one million Of 
dollars was appropriated therefor. Instearl of 
that, we now have in the field and ready for 
service, fifty-six regiments of infantry, fourteen 
of cavalry, and two of artillery ; and it may be 
added that Illinois stands proudly and pre-emi- 
nently above all her sister States in having sent 
more troops in proportion to popu'ation into the 
field than any State in the Union. If, therefore, 
the appropriations of the Legislature had been 
exceeded, I should feel fully justified in having 
furnished our troops supplies in cases of ac!ual 
necessity, under the act of Congress passed 
since the session of the Legislature, to wit, July 
27, 1861, which is as follows: 

"An Act to indemnifv the Staters for expenses incurred by 
them in defense of the United States," 

'•Be it enacted by the Senate and Howe of Represen- 
lives of the United States in Congress aMemhled, That" 
the Secretary of the Tieasury be and he is hereby directed 
out of any money lathe Treasury, not otherwise arprcpriat- 
ed, to pay to the Governor of any State or tohisduly au hor- 



ized agents the co'-ts, charges and exp^nse^i properly incurred 
by 8uc!i State for enr(.l i g, »ubs sting, c o'hing, supplying, 
arm ng, equi])ping, paying and transporting its troops tra- 
pldjed In a'dingto I U; jiri s the pres nt nturrectou against 
the Un ted Stites, to be settled upon pioper vtuehers to be 
fi ed and pa!S»-d upon by t: e ) roper a:coun*ing othcers of 
ihe Treasuiy." 

In justification of such a course, I also have 
had the encouragement of the Legislature it- 
self, as is evident from the following resolution, 
passed by both Houses of the General Assem- 
bly, at its la>-t session : 

Eexolvedhy the Senate, the Ilonfie of R^xtreaenV'tives 
concwring h^^ein. That, the faih, credit and resources of 
the ^tatr of 11 iaois, both in men and mcney, are pledg> d, to 
a' y amount, and to ever. ex'eMi, which tl\e Fed lal Oov- 
ernment may demanil to sub me rebellon, to enforce the 
laws, to protect the lives and property of tlje people and to 
maintan, inviolat , ihe consti ution and sovereignty of the 
State. 

And such, to-day, I have no doubt, is the 
sentiment of every loyal man in the State. 

I know well that under our Constitution, ex- 
penditures cannot be made except upon appro- 
priations by law, yet the call ol the General 
Government in an emergency involving the life 
of the nation, and its law for reimbursement to 
the State of all advances, would present a case 
demanding the gravest consideration. And 
while New York, Pennsylvania and other States, 
were spending millions upon their troops, as I 
am informed in excess of appropriations, to be 
reimbursed by the Federal Treasury, I could 
not consent that the troops of Illinois should 
remain unprovided, and not receive their share 
from the common Treasury. 

And in this connection, that there may 
be no doubt that the Federal authori- 
ties fully rtcognized the right \ of the 
States to supply their troops after they had 
left the State, and gone into the United States 
service in other States, I submit herewith a 
copy of an order from the War Department, 
and of date October 11, 1861, which not only 
recognizes the light of the states to provide 
their troops, and be reimbursed for such ex- 
penses from the Federal Treasury, but also to 
prevent the supplies thus furnished from being 
diverted from them. Difficulties had been in- 
terposed, and in some cases the agents of States 
had been prevented from delivering their sup- 
plies to their own troops, and such supplies had 
been taken possession of by United States 
Quartermasters, and delivered to other troops 
than those for whom the purchases were made : 



War Department, 1 

iNT GisNBKAL's OfFFCE, \ 

ashington, Oclobtr 11, ISGl. ) 



War Department, 

ADJDTA^ 

Washii 



[Gener.l CrJer No. S9.] 

" Supplies forwarded by particular States for their volun- 
teers in the service of the United Stutes, will be turned over 
to tfe proper ftatl Department of the a' my, and issued • c- 
CTrding to law and regulations to the troo, s of the Siate for 
which they were specially intended. But as such suj plies 
will eieatua'ly be charged to the United txATES, any 
that may remain in exce s of regulation allowances, may, 
when so directed by the General commandii g, be is.ued to 
any other troops in the service of the United States standing 
in need of them." 

Upon the question of the excess of appropri- 
ations, I think much trouble grows out of the 
diflSculty of giving a proper construction to the 



Acts of the last legislature. If the most literal 
construction is given to the Ac creating the 
War Fund, then it may be doubted whether 
any of the two niilHon bonds authorized by 
that act, could have been sold for the purpose 
of supplying our troops. The eighth section of 
the Act which authorizes the issue of the 
bonds expressly declares that t&ey shall be sold 
"f"r the purpose of organizing the militia, re- 
pelling invasion, and defending the State in 
war." 

Under a literal construction of this phraseolo- 
gy of this law, it may even be doubted whether 
provision was made fur sending troops out of 
the State at all, and yet it is not denied by 
those who allege excess of expenditures over 
appropriation?, that it was legitimate under the 
exigencies of the case, and in view of the vast 
and formidable proportions which the rebellion 
had assumed, and under the call of the Presi- 
dent, to issue the two millions to aid in suppress- 
ing the rebellion in other States. 

The last Legislature made appropriations as 
follows : 

Under the act (o raise the ten regiments of 

Infantry, etc ,$1,000,000 

Under aoi to purchase at ms 500,000 

Undr act for contingent expenditures in Execu- 
tive Depaitment 50,000 

Under act creatii.g War Fuod 2,000,0011 

Total $3,550,000 

Thus it appears that the Legislature made ap- 
propriations for $3,550 000, but only authoriz- 
ed the sale of $2,000,005 of bonds, in which 
case the reasonable construction would be that, 
if necessary, the whole amount could be ex 
pended although provision for payment by the 
sale of bonds was only made to the extent of 
two million dollars, leaving the other appropria- 
tions to be paid out of any unappropriated mon- 
ey in the Treasury. And although section 
second of the act creating the war fund, de- 
clares that all monies raised or appropriated 
by the Legislature shall be kept separate and 
apart and denominated the war fund, yet it is 
not absolutely ceriiiin that the war fund was to 
consist only of the $2,000,000 bonds, but to 
give consistency to the various acts it seems 
necessary that the other appropriations should 
• Iso be denominated by that name. 

Whatever ii.ay be the construction, there can 
be but little doubt of the intention of the Legis- 
lature, and my view of it has been that the ob- 
ject of the Legislature was to appropriate $500,- 
000 to the purchase of arms, and $1,000,000 by 
the ten regiment act, which million, ac- 
cording to section 8, of said act, was to be 
"paid by the Treasurer upon warrants drawn 
by the the Auditor, upon the written order of 
the Governor. " And the $2,000,000 bonds were 
designed by the Legislatue as either a donation 
or an advance to the United States to aid in 



crushing out the rebellion, and to be reimbursed, 
if at all, at the pleasure of the General Govern- 
ment. 

But, however this may be, it is proper here to 
say, that it never has been the desire of the 
Stale authorities to exceed the appropriations. 

Only $1,020,400 of bonds have been sold un- 
der the act creatii g the war fund. The State 
authorities have desired tolescape the sale of 
bonds at a sacrifice, with the confident expec- 
tation that the Federal Government would reim- 
burse to the State the whole amount contracted 
for by her. And I have not the least doubt 
that when Congress passes the bill for issuing 
one hundred million of Treasury notes, which 
bill, cr some other equally effective 
one, it will probably pass before 
this convention adjourns, the whole or a larger 
portion of the liabilities of this State vrill be 
paid by the General Government, The Govern- 
ment has already reimbursed the State to the 
amount of $1,398, .373, 

It is true, that under the direction of the 
Secretary of War to extend to Gen, McCler- 
nand's brigade every facility, I at the request of 
Gen. McClernand, advanced lo his Brigade 
Quartermaster $25,000, which said Quarter- 
master informs me he fully accounted for in a 
recent sattl'^ment with the United States, and 
which is, therefore, in the Treasury to our 
credit. Gen. McClernand's brigade had been 
ordered to Cairo, as it was supposed in an emer- 
gency, and under this emergency and the di- 
rection of the War Department, I felt fully jm- 
tifiedin making the advance. If we add to the 
above sum of $1,398 373, the goods on hand 
and contracted tor, which I am informed will 
amount to about $1,300 000, we have the sum 
of $2,098,373, which deducted from the expen- 
ditures will reduce them below $2,500,000, 
which seems admitted to be within the appro- 
I priations. 

At all events, these liabilities have been con- 
tracted in a time of unusual and extraordinary 
peril to the country, and deemed essential to 
the preser-'ation of our free institutions in re- 
sponse to the call of the Federal Government: 
and the expenditures have been made with a 
sincere desire most effectually to promote the 
public service and strengthen the arm of the Ad- 
ministratioa in putting down the formidable re- 
bellion which threatens the overthrow of the 
Government ; and 1 believe that when all the 
perplexitiesof the new and dilBcult position in 
which we were placed, are duly considered our 
action will meet with the full indorsement of 
the people of the State. 

I baza the honor to be 

Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

RICHARD YATES, Governor. 






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